The Shifting Sands

I don’t like organised running events and it had been eight years since my last one, a 100km group run through the hills and forests to the north of Melbourne.   I don’t like the cost, the crowds, the overflowing portable toilets at the start and the T shirt that they give you that you don’t want and you will never wear again. My thoughts are that if you want to go for a run then just put on your shoes, grab a water bottle and go. I surprised myself when I felt some interest in doing the Wadi Bih run in the Musandam Governate in Oman.   In my defence there were a few extenuating circumstances that helped to spark my interest.   The first is that I like Oman and in particular Musandam as result of my sea kayak trip around the north of the peninsula. The second is that this part of Oman is normally difficult to reach as the border at Dibba is closed for foreigners (i.e. not Omanis or Emiraties) which means a long drive via Khasab.   The other alternative to cross at Dibba is the ultr

As I get older I like to learn new things.  In Mumbai it was the guitar and, over the last 4 years, I have developed in a a pretty poor guitarist but I enjoying kicking back of an evening and learning to play new songs.  Some are classics and some should only be played on a karaoke machine. Much to Lucy's disgust I have even learnt a Justin Bieber song! I am not sure what is worse, my guitar playing or surfing.  I am certainly no Jack Johnson! The beach hut at Horseshoe cove. Cocktails, fresh coconuts and the ubiquitous stray dogs In Dubai the new thing has been learning how surf.  Living overseas there is an implicit assumption that, as an Australian, I can surf. When explaining my lack of skills, I need to remind people that although most of the population live near the coast, there are still a few that grow up a long way from the beach with rivers as there only source of water based fun.   Our surfing started with Ada wanting to lear